Never have so many been cut so fast — less than half of the young artists who survived the first two rounds of “American Idol” challenges will move forward in the competition to the Top 30. Malaya Watson of Southfield and Jena Irene of Farmington Hills are among the chosen few.

As “American Idol” introduces new and at times shocking elements this season, this week known as “Hollywood Week” required each artist to perform a song before having a face to face meeting with Judges Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick Jr . The singers were forced to walk through a ridiculously long room, then climb into uncomfortable director’s chairs to learn their fates. Stone-faced judges played the drama card as contenders sat before them, terrified and unable to breathe. After what seemed like hours of suspense, judges delivered their verdicts: go on or go home.

Malaya Watson confidently strolled across the very long room and corrected Connick Jr.’s pronunciation of her name, pronounced “mah-LAY-ah,” which she told him means “freedom” in the Filipino language. Watson’s mother is Filipino.

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“That name has great potential to be a star at some point,” Connick told her, adding ... wait for it ... “We want you in the Top 30.”

Watson doubted whether she would make it.

“I wasn’t sure what they were going to say, because of a problem with my performance. I sang ‘I Believe’ by Fantasia, but the band and I were in different keys,” she said. The band was the one in the wrong key. “I thought I did something wrong when Harry asked us to start over. The heel of my shoe was wobbling and about to fall off. But then I just thought that the show must go on, and I did it. It was great.”

Watson’s performance received a standing ovation from Urban and Lopez as well as a smile from Connick, a salute to a strong performance after the false start. She says she is mentally and physically exhausted, but relieved to move forward to the elite Top 30, along with Jena Irene.

A number of American Idol hopefuls chose to perform original songs to demonstrate the depth of their talent, only to find the judges — not fans of their work — handed them their tickets home. Irene says she chose to perform “Unbreakable Me” because she was more comfortable singing her own song, and she could accompany herself on the piano. She wrote it a year ago after watching a friend struggle with an eating disorder.

“The message of the song is that everyone is beautiful, just the way they are,” said Irene. “I walked out on stage, performed, then left. They needed to hear 77 people, so things were moving fast, and I really couldn’t tell what they thought about the song or my performance.”

Dressed in an outfit from Royal Oak’s Saffron boutique, she took her sunny, positive attitude along on the long walk to talk with the judges. She said her heart was pounding when Connick took his dramatic pause before telling her she would be part of the Top 30.

“He told me they had a nick name for me — the sleeper,” Irene said. “It had been an exhausting week, and I knew they caught me napping on camera a couple of times. I thought that was what he meant. Then he explained that they didn’t expect me to make it this far in the competition. He said, ‘A sleeper is a movie that no one thinks will do well, and it explodes — that’s you. That’s a compliment.’”

Irene described her walk back to the door as floating; she was on cloud nine.

“He is a genius of music, they all are, and to hear that compliment made me so happy. I’m still smiling,” she said.

Irene and Watson are now preparing for American Idol Rush Week, which is the beginning of live performances.

Long days

Both teens must not only practice for live performances, but also spend hours with a tutor to keep up their school work.

“I have pre-calculus, physics and world history that keeps me busy,” Watson said. “My mom says that if I get into the Top 10 she will buy me a new computer. Now that is incentive.”

Irene agreed that the schedule is exhausting. She said she is up daily by 5 a.m. to do her own hair and makeup, so she can be camera-ready by breakfast at 7 a.m. Reminding herself that she is doing what she loves, she adds she was told to expect curve balls and surprises constantly.

And that is good advice for all hopefuls as “American Idol” has some nasty twists and turns planned for Rush Week, when the judges will allow only singers they think are worthy of the “Idol” mantle to perform. The rest will be sent packing without an opportunity to sing.

After the live shows on Tuesday and Wednesday nights, voting lines will be open so fans can help choose the next “American Idol.” Viewers will be able to SuperVote, using americanidol.com, the “American Idol” app and Facebook. Fans will be able to submit up to 50 votes per contestant at one time. Viewers can also phone in their votes.